Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications

Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications, Second Edition, covers both the polymer basics that are helpful to bring readers quickly up-to-speed if they are not familiar with a particular area of plastics processing and the recent developments that enable practitioners to discover which options best fit their requirements.

New chapters added specifically cover polyamides, polyimides, and polyesters. Hot topics such as 3-D printing and smart plastics are also included, giving plastics engineers the information they need to take these embryonic technologies and deploy them in their own work.

With the increasing demands for lightness and fuel economy in the automotive industry (not least due to CAFÉ standards), plastics will soon be used even further in vehicles. A new chapter has been added to cover the technology trends in this area, and the book has been substantially updated to reflect advancements in technology, regulations, and the commercialization of plastics in various areas.

Recycling of plastics has been thoroughly revised to reflect ongoing developments in sustainability of plastics. Extrusion processing is constantly progressing, as have the elastomeric materials, fillers, and additives which are available.

Throughout the book, the focus is on the engineering aspects of producing and using plastics. The properties of plastics are explained, along with techniques for testing, measuring, enhancing, and analyzing them. Practical introductions to both core topics and new developments make this work equally valuable for newly qualified plastics engineers seeking the practical rules-of-thumb they don't teach you in school and experienced practitioners evaluating new technologies or getting up-to-speed in a new field.

Presents an authoritative source of practical advice for engineers, providing guidance from experts that will lead to cost savings and process improvementsIdeal introduction for both new engineers and experienced practitioners entering a new field or evaluating a new technologyUpdated to include the latest technology, including 3D Printing, smart polymers, and thorough coverage of biopolymers and biodegradable plastics

Part I: Plastics, elastomeric and biobased materials 1. Engineering Thermoplastics - Materials, Properties, Trends 2. Polyolefins 3. Introduction to Fluoropolymers 4. Poly(Vinyl Chloride) 5. Thermoplastic Elastomers 6. Thermoset Elastomers 7. Biodegradable and Biobased Polymers 8. Polymeric Biomaterials

Part II: Plastics processing 9. Recycling of Plastics 10. Injection Molding Technology 11. Microcellular Injection Molding 12. Extrusion Processes 13. Blow Molding 14. Compression Molding 15. Rotational Molding16: Thermoforming 17. Process Monitoring and Process Control: An Overview 18. Polymer Stabilization 19. Chaotic Advection and Its Application to Extruding Micro- and Nanostructured Plastic Materials

Part III: Additives, colorants and fillers 20. Surface Modification of Plastics 21. Plastics Additives 22. Dispersants and Coupling Agents 23. Functional Fillers for Plastics 24. Plasticizers 25. Adhesion Promoters: Silane Coupling Agents

Part IV: Design and applications 26. Plastics Joining 27. Design of Plastic Parts 28. Three-Dimensional Printing of Plastics 29. Plastics in Buildings and Construction 30. Automotive Applications of Plastics: Past, Present, and Future 31. Infrastructure Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites 32. The Plastic Piping Industry in North America 33. PET Use in Blow Molded Rigid Packaging